9<\/strong>. So the king of Israel went<\/em> ] Josephus ( Ant.<\/em> IX. 3. 1) tells how Jehoram and his army were hospitably and magnificently received in Jerusalem before they started on their march.<\/p>\n and the king of Edom<\/em> ] The same author says that along with his own promise of help, Jehoshaphat had pledged himself to compel the king of Edom, his subject, to take part in the expedition. So by going this way the army not only found an uninterrupted line of march but additional forces also.<\/p>\n and they fetcht a compass<\/em> [R.V. made a circuit<\/strong> ] of seven days’ journey<\/em> ] This old English phrase for taking a roundabout road is found here and 2Sa 5:23<\/span>; Act 28:13<\/span>. It is not easy to see why they should have gone so long a way about, when the country through which they were passing belonged to one of the allied kings. It might perhaps be necessary for the sake of finding provender. Josephus says that their guides led them wrong, but this is highly improbable. There must have been many persons among the Edomites who were familiar enough with all the ways into the neighbouring country of Moab.<\/p>\n and for the cattle<\/em> ] R.V. beasts<\/strong>. This change is made that there may be uniformity of rendering between this verse and verse 17.<\/p>\n Seven days journey – <\/B>The distance of the route probably followed is not much more than 100 miles. But the difficulties of the way are great; and the army might not be able to move along it at a faster rate than about 15 miles a day.<\/P> No water – <\/B>The kings had probably expected to find sufficient water for both men and baggage animals in the Wady-el-Ahsy, which divides Edom from Moab, and which has a stream that is now regarded as perennial. But it was dried up – quite a possible occurrence with any of the streams of this region.<\/P><\/p>\n Verse 9<\/span>. A compass of seven days’ journey<\/B><\/I>] By taking a circuitous route, to go round the southern part of the Dead Sea, they probably intended to surprise the Moabites; but it appears their journey was ill planned, as they at last got into a country in which it was impossible to obtain water<\/I>, and they were brought in consequence to the utmost extremity.<\/P> <\/p>\n The king of Edom, <\/B>i.e. the viceroy under Jehoshaphat, 1Ki 22:47<\/span>, here called king<\/I>; either because he was so called and accounted by his own people, or because that word is sometimes used for any prince or chief ruler. See Deu 33:5<\/span>; Jdg 18:1<\/span>; 21:25<\/span>; 1Ki 20:1<\/span>. <\/P> They fetched a compass, <\/B>because they made a great army, which could move but slowly; and they fetched a greater compass than was usual, for some advantage which they expected by it. <\/P> There was no water; <\/B>a frequent want in those hot and desert parts; and now, as it seems, increased by the extraordinary heat and dryness of the season. <\/P> <\/p>\n So the king of Israel went, and the king of Judah<\/strong>,…. The way of the wilderness of Edom, proposed by the latter:<\/p>\n and the king of Edom<\/strong>; whom they took with them in their way, who was not properly a king, but a viceroy or deputy, see 1Ki 22:47<\/span><\/p>\n and they fetched a compass of seven days journey<\/strong>; they went round the Dead Sea, and through the wilderness of Edom, and so to the borders of Moab:<\/p>\n and there was no water for the host, and for the cattle that followed them<\/strong>; neither for the soldiers in the army, nor the cattle that drew the carriages, being in a wilderness.<\/p>\n Elisha Saves the Day – Verses 9-19<\/strong><\/p>\n As the armies of Israel and Judah set out they were joined by the king of Edom with his army. They planned a circuitous route which would bring them into Moab by the back door through Edom, but somewhere their surveillance men failed them. They missed the oases in the wilderness and found themselves without water and unable to find any. This was a great dilemma with the thousands of armed men, to say nothing of the camp followers, horses, mules, and the cattle they were bringing along for food. Immediately the ungodly Jehoram began to blame God for bringing them here to perish. Is it not strange he did not blame his own false gods? But that is the way of the worldly, who have no serious thought of the Lord until some serious calamity overtakes them, and then they want to blame God for their trouble.<\/p>\n Again the godly Jehoshaphat belatedly decides they should seek the will of the Lord through one of his prophets. When he inquired for a prophet he was informed that Elisha was among the camp. Jehoshaphat was pleased at this and persuaded the other two kings to go with him to consult the prophet. It is not known why Elisha was with the army. Likely it was to supply spiritual guidance for the men who required it, but whatever the reason, his presence was the means of the deliverance of the allied armies.<\/p>\n Elisha saw the king of Israel as the leader of the expedition, which of course, he was, and he disdained to answer him. He wanted nothing to do with the wicked Jehoram and suggested that he consult the gods of his father and mother. Jehoram gave as his reason for seeking the prophet of God that it was the Lord’s judgment which got them in this fix. In his mind Jehoram must have looked on God as a big bully, out to get the cream of young manhood in the three nations by slaughtering them in the Judaean wilderness.<\/p>\n Elisha consented to seek the will of the Lord simply because he respected the presence and person of the godly Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, even swearing by the living God, whom he served, he would not intervene otherwise. But the prophet was too distraught and angered to get to the Lord in his present state. He asked for a minstrel, whose soothing music would calm his spirit and help him to remove the rancor from his heart so he could consult the Lord. There is a good lesson here for God’s children, when their emotions upset them. They need a few quiet, soothing moments of meditation that they may become forgiving and be restored to divine fellowship (Isa 59:2<\/span>; 1Pe 5:6-7<\/span>).<\/p>\n The Lord’s message which He gave to Elisha may have seemed strange to the kings, and perhaps unbelievable to wicked Jehoram. It certainly required considerable faith to carry it out. They were directed to dig ditches all through the dry valley. The Lord would fill them with abundant water, enough for men, cattle, and beasts. Not only would the Lord thus deliver the armies from their predicament, but they would go on to absolute defeat of the Moabites. So complete would be the devastation of their land that every fortified city and every goodly city would be laid waste. The forests would be cut down, the wells and springs stopped up, and the cultivable land filled with rocks. Moab would be ruined.<\/p>\n (9) The king of Edom.<\/strong>A vassal king appointed by Jehoshaphat (1Ki. 22:48<\/span>).<\/p>\n They fetched a compass.<\/strong>Went round<\/em> (scil., the Dead Sea) a journey of seven days.<\/em> The confederates appear to have lost their way among the mountains of Seir. They would, in any case, be greatly delayed by the cattle which it was necessary to take with them for subsistence. It is evident from the context that the distress began after<\/em> the Edomite contingent had joined.<\/p>\n For the host, and for the cattle that followed them.<\/strong>The stopping is wrong. It should be, and there was not water for the army and for the cattle which followed them.<\/em> Them, i.e., the kings. (Comp. Jdg. 5:15<\/span>.) The cattle, i.e.<\/em>, the herds and flocks for the maintenance of the army.<\/p>\n The allies appear to have marched through the deep, rocky glen of El-Ahsy<\/em> (or El-Qurhy<\/em>), between Moab and Edom. They expected to find water there, as is usually the case, even in the dry season; but on this occasion the water failed.<\/p>\n 9<\/strong>. <\/strong> And the king of Edom <\/strong> One further object of journeying by the way of Edom may have been to secure the co-operation of this king, who was now at peace and in league with Judah, but who might have been strongly tempted to revolt if he had been ignored in this war for the subjugation of Moab. <\/p>\n No water for the host <\/strong> A calamity very likely to overtake a vast army in that desolate and barren section of the land.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/strong> The Miracle in the Wilderness<\/p>\n v. 9. So the king of Israel went, and the king of Judah, and the king of Edom,<\/strong> the governor under the overlordship of Judah being given the title of king by courtesy, 1Ki 22:48<\/span>; and they fetched a compass of seven days’ journey,<\/strong> marching down near the western shore of the Dead Sea. And there was no water for the host and for the cattle that followed them,<\/strong> used as provisions for the army. They had ventured too far from their water supply. <\/p>\n v. 10. And the king of Israel,<\/strong> immediately abandoning himself to despair, said, Alas, that the Lord hath called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab!<\/strong> Being without faith in Jehovah, he saw nothing but death and destruction before his eyes. <\/p>\n v. 11. But Jehoshaphat,<\/strong> having confidence in the Lord, said, Is there not here a prophet of the Lord that we may enquire of the Lord by him?<\/strong> Cf 1Ki 22:7<\/span>. He wanted the advice of a true prophet, of one in the service of Jehovah. And one of the king of Israel’s servants answered and said, Here is Elisha, the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah,<\/strong> namely, in the capacity of servant and disciple. <\/p>\n v. 12. And Jehoshaphat,<\/strong> who had heard of this new prophet, said, The word of the Lord is with him,<\/strong> he is a genuine prophet. So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him,<\/strong> from the elevation on which their tents were placed to the valley where Elisha remained with the host. <\/p>\n v. 13. And Elisha said unto the king of Israel,<\/strong> taking this opportunity to reprove him and to work a wholesome sorrow for his sins in his heart, What have I to do with thee?<\/strong> What business could they have together, since Jehoram was addicted to idolatry? Get thee to the prophets of thy father and to the prophets of thy mother;<\/strong> for he still permitted the priests of Baal to continue in his land. And the king of Israel,<\/strong> with at least some show of humility, said unto him, Nay; for the Lord hath called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab. <\/strong> So his appeal for help was based upon the fact that the lives and armies of three kings were at stake. <\/p>\n v. 14. And Elisha said, As the Lord of hosts,<\/strong> Jehovah Sabaoth, the mighty Ruler of the heavenly armies, liveth, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, I would not look toward thee nor see thee,<\/strong> he would have ignored both him and his request. <\/p>\n v. 15. But now bring me a minstrel,<\/strong> a harp-player, his intention being by means of the soothing influence of music to withdraw his mind from the outer world and prepare for any Revelation which the Lord might give him. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him,<\/strong> he became a mouthpiece of Jehovah. <\/p>\n v. 16. And he said, Thus saith the Lord, Make this valley full of ditches,<\/strong> with cisterns for holding an abundance of water. <\/p>\n v. 17. For thus saith the Lord, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain,<\/strong> there would be no rainstorm in or near their camp; yet that valley shall be filled with water that ye may drink, both ye and your cattle and your beasts,<\/strong> the former being the animals intended for food, the latter those bearing burdens. <\/p>\n v. 18. And this is but a light thing in the sight of the Lord,<\/strong> it was a small matter to Jehovah to supply the army with drinking-water; He will deliver the Moabites also into your hand,<\/strong> granting them a glorious victory over the enemy. <\/p>\n v. 19. And ye shall smite every fenced city,<\/strong> those with strong fortifications, and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree,<\/strong> even the fruit-trees not being excepted in this case, and stop all wells of water, and mar every good piece of land with stones,<\/strong> by so covering it with stones that it would no longer be fit for cultivation. <\/p>\n v. 20. And it came to pass in the morning, when the meat-offering was offered,<\/strong> at the time of the morning sacrifice, shortly after sunrise, that, behold, there came water by the way of Edom, and the country was filled with water. <\/strong> The Lord had sent a heavy rain or a cloudburst in the hills of Edom during the night, and the water now came rushing down the canyons into the valley where the combined armies were encamped. It was a miracle of God’s mercy, one of whose objects was to turn the hearts of all the men to Him. <\/p>\n 2Ki 3:9 So the king of Israel went, and the king of Judah, and the king of Edom: and they fetched a compass of seven days’ journey: and there was no water for the host, and for the cattle that followed them.<\/p>\n Ver. 9. Of seven days’ journey.] This was a long while for such an army to be without water; and should have been sooner seen to. Prevision<\/em> is the best means of prevention.<\/em> This was a check to Jehoshaphat’s rashness.<\/p>\n fetched a compass = made a circuit. Compare Act 28:13. <\/p>\n 2Ki 3:9-12<\/p>\n 2Ki 3:9-12<\/p>\n WHEN DISASTER THREATENED; THE KINGS WENT TO ELISHA<\/p>\n “So the king of Israel went, and the king of Judah, and the king of Edom; and they made a circuit of seven days’ journey: and there was no water for the host, nor for the beasts that followed them. And the king of Israel said, Alas! for Jehovah hath called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab. But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of Jehovah, that we may inquire of Jehovah by him? And one of the king of Israel’s servants answered and said, Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who poured water on the hands of Elijah. And Jehoshaphat said, The word of Jehovah is with him. So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him.”<\/p>\n “They made a circuit of seven days’ journey” (2Ki 3:9). Their route of attack against Moab was down the western shore of the Dead Sea, around the southern end of that sea and through the territory of Edom toward Moab. When they came to the border of Moab, which was the Wady es-Ahsy they fully expected plenty of water from the perennial stream, but an extended drought in Edom had dried it up, and the whole host of the three kings was threatened with death by thirst! It was a crisis of unbelievable magnitude.<\/p>\n “Jehovah hath called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab” (2Ki 3:10). This statement by the king of Israel was that of an unbeliever. Any threatening disaster he was ready to attribute to Israel’s true God, but, fortunately, Jehoshaphat was a man of greater faith.<\/p>\n “Is there not here a prophet of Jehovah?” (2Ki 3:11). It is remarkable that Jehoram was ignorant of Elisha’s presence in the host, but one of his servants told him that the prophet was among them. Having learned this, Jehoshaphat at once stated that the word of Jehovah was with Elisha, and the three kings decided to consult him.<\/p>\n “And they went down to him” (2Ki 3:12). Jehoram might have thought of sending for Elisha, but the three kings were in dire straits and decided to humble themselves and go to the prophet rather than demanding that the prophet come to them. After all, when terrible death threatens, many an erstwhile unbeliever turns in meekness and humility to God who alone determines the issues of life and death.<\/p>\n E.M. Zerr:<\/p>\n 2Ki 3:9. Sure enough, the king of Edom joined as an ally of Jehoram and Jehoshaphat. Compass of seven days means the route they chose was out of the way to the extent that it took seven days longer. It also took them into a territory where there was no drinking water. <\/p>\n 2Ki 3:10. Jehoram became uneasy and feared that perhaps the situation was brought about by the Lord; if so, it was in order to entrap them with the Moabites. <\/p>\n 2Ki 3:11. After the law of Moses was completed and left with God’s people, it was regarded as all the Lord wanted in the way of statute law, or formal enactment. That is why we have the words “and he added no more” in Deu 5:22. As time went on, it was necessary to have the services of inspired men in interpreting that law to show its proper application, also to give specific information in emergencies. For such purposes God used the priests (Lev 10:8-11; Deu 17:9-10; Mal 2:7) and the prophets. See Heb 1:1. Jehoshaphat had good reason, therefore, to call for a prophet of the Lord. He was told of an available one by the name of Elisha. Poured water on the hands of Elijah. This fact is not mentioned in any other place, and is doubtless merely a reference to his ministrations to the head prophet over him. Moffatt’s translation is, “who used to be servant to Elijah.” <\/p>\n 2Ki 3:12. Jehoshaphat recognized Elisha as an inspired prophet, and the three kings went to confer with him. <\/p>\n Edom: 1Ki 22:27 <\/p>\n no water: Exo 15:22, Exo 17:1, Num 20:2, Num 20:4, Num 21:5, Num 33:14 <\/p>\n that followed them: Heb. at their feet, Exo 11:8, *marg. Jdg 4:10 <\/p>\n Reciprocal: Gen 21:15 – the water 1Ki 22:47 – no king 2Ki 3:26 – unto the king of Edom 2Ki 8:20 – Edom 2Ch 21:8 – and made Psa 84:6 – the rain Pro 19:3 – foolishness Amo 2:1 – because<\/p>\n 2Ki 3:9. The king of Edom Properly speaking, there was no king at this time in Edom, as we read in the last chapter of the foregoing book, 1Ki 22:47; but the viceroy, under Jehoshaphat, is here called king, that word being often used for any prince or chief ruler. Of seven days journey Because they made a great army, which could move but slowly; and they fetched a greater compass than usual, that they might come upon the backs of the Moabites, where they did not expect them, or for some other advantage which they hoped to reap by it. There was no water for the host A frequent want in those parts; and now, it seems, increased by the extraordinary heat and dryness of the season. And for the cattle that followed them Which drew their carriages.<\/p>\n 3:9 So the king of Israel went, and the king of Judah, and the {e} king of Edom: and they fetched a compass of seven days’ journey: and there was no water for the host, and for the cattle that followed them.<\/p>\n (e) Meaning the viceroy, or lieutenant of the king of Judah, 1Ki 22:47.<\/p>\n So the king of Israel went, and the king of Judah, and the king of Edom: and they fetched a compass of seven days’ journey: and there was no water for the host, and for the cattle that followed them. 9. So the king of Israel went ] Josephus ( Ant. IX. 3. 1) tells … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 3:9”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9597","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-commentary"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9597","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9597"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9597\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9597"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9597"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9597"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"